News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Sisters' Habitat for Humanity Thrift Store is in desperate need for volunteers in order to continue its five-day-a-week schedule.
Much of the store's volunteer staff has gone south for the winter, leaving the store below the minimum staff level needed to operate.
"We've lost an awful lot of snowbirds this last month," said volunteer Nan Miller.
According to Miller, the store needs at least 10 volunteers per day to operate. Volunteers work in 3-1/2 hour shifts, running the cash register, sorting goods, stocking the racks and shelves and pricing items.
Many volunteers work only one or two shifts per month, Miller said, and others work a few hours as their schedules permit.
"We're happy to have people come in for regular shifts... but we will work with people who want to do it on the basis of their convenience," Miller said.
Pricing goods and ironing clothing are particularly suited to occasional volunteers. In fact, Miller said, volunteers can even take ironing home with them if that's easier.
Miller is concerned that the store will have to curtail its hours of operation if enough volunteers don't step up. That could have a financial impact on Sisters' Habitat for Humanity chapter, which raised $130,000 through the store for its local home-building operation.
Closing the store for a day a week would hurt the broader community as well, Miller said.
A lot of Sisters residents do their shopping at the thrift store, drawn by the low prices and quality goods.
"We have people who come in every day to shop," Miller said.
Some of the volunteers have worked ever since the store opened six years ago. Some drive in from Redmond or Bend to work.
"It's a fun place to work," Miller said.
For more information call Nan Miller at 549-3028 or visit the store at 141 West Main Avenue.
Jim Cornelius is editor in chief of The Nugget and author of “Warriors of the Wildlands: True Tales of the Frontier Partisans.” A history buff, he explores frontier history across three centuries and several continents on his podcast, The Frontier Partisans. For more information visit www.frontierpartisans.com.
Reader Comments(0)